«The first museum of cultural centers has also been opened – it is a branch of the Tretyakov Gallery in Kaliningrad. Its expositions will introduce residents and guests of the region to Russia's richest artistic heritage, and a variety of studios and creative workshops will allow children and adults to find something to do and better unleash their talents. I am sure that this modern museum space will become a popular place for recreation, for educational leisure, and will increase the tourist potential of the region.», commented Vladimir Putin.

The construction of the building was carried out for four years — from December 2019 to December 2023. The total area of the facility is 17.5 thousand square meters, of which 4.5 thousand square meters are allocated for exhibition halls.

On the eve of the opening, from 12 to 15 June, lectures, workshops, guided tours and quizzes were held for the guests. A separate exhibition «Picture of the World» and an educational program within the framework of the Cantata festival were also presented.

The filial of the Tretyakov Gallery is to become a «home museum for Kaliningrad residents and a prominent cultural center for tourists.

Architecture and space

The central part of the ground floor is the grand staircase amphitheater, suitable for lectures, presentations and concerts. A dome rises above the auditorium, creating a tent effect.

On the second floor of the museum there are eight exhibition halls, permanent and temporary expositions, as well as research and educational spaces. The level of darkening of the windows in the halls can be adjusted depending on the requirements of each exhibition.

Another architectural feature of the building is the 50—meter administrative tower. It houses staff offices, a multifunctional space for presentations, press conferences and other events, as well as technical rooms for engineering systems.

The first exhibition

To ensure the high quality of museum activities, «Metropolis» has implemented sophisticated technical solutions that allow engineering and security systems to be adapted to the requirements of various exhibitions.

The first exhibition project of the new filial is «Five Centuries of Russian Art». The large—scale exhibition occupies three large halls with a total area of 2,000 square meters. It includes more than 300 paintings and sculptures, from 16th-century icons to works by contemporary artists.

The exhibition will be open for 9-10 months. After that, the branch will present a new exhibition.

Permanent exhibitions and future development

The museum also features two permanent exhibitions: the multimedia project «The Hall of the Tretyakov Gallery's History» and the Children's Museum — a space designed for young visitors.

Among the advantages of the new building is the presence of restoration workshops, where specialists will be able to work with artworks made from various materials.

The building was designed by the architectural firm «Meganom». The project was commissioned by the National Cultural Heritage Foundation and the All-Russian Museum Association «State Tretyakov Gallery». The company «Metropolis» developed the design and working documentation for the structural solutions and internal engineering systems, and also provided project management for the construction — a crucial part of the successful implementation of such a significant cultural project.

Many facilities designed by the company «Metropolis» are part of cultural and educational clusters — such as the Tretyakov Gallery in Kaliningrad, as well as in Kemerovo, Vladivostok, and Sevastopol. The creation of such clusters contributes to unlocking the country’s cultural and educational potential, improving quality of life, and enhancing the tourist appeal of the regions.